France: sweet land of tramways?

Transdev prides itself as an international leader in trams - operating 12 networks including Nottingham, Porto and Melbourne. It has been deeply involved in the success of trams in France and Yves?Laurin, light rail director, proposes that France is the doux pays des tramways - the sweet land of trams

Transdev operates a total fleet of more than 1016 trams across the world, including 388 in France, and out of its tram operations in 12 cities, seven of those are in France

Transdev operates a total fleet of more than 1016 trams across the world, including 388 in France, and out of its tram operations in 12 cities, seven of those are in France

Over 110,000 boardings a day are made on the main lines of Montpellier (pictured), Strasbourg or Paris

Over 110,000 boardings a day are made on the main lines of Montpellier (pictured), Strasbourg or Paris

Trams have made a stunning comeback in France over the past 25 years. To date more than 420 kilometres of lines are in commercial operation - over 465 kilometres if we include those running on tyres. More than 820 light rail vehicles are in service.

The development of trams is continuing with more than 150 kilometres of new lines to be built before the next local elections in 2014. The number of tramcars will be not far from 1,000.

When most French cities dismantled their trams only three...